Seven Round Rock ISD student entries have earned statewide recognition as semifinalists in the 2026 I Am Texas Writing and Art Contest. Three of those seven have moved to the finalist round.
The Bryan Museum, the creators of this contest, is a museum dedicated to bringing the history of Texas and the American West to life through art, education and preservation. With support from I Write, an organization focused on supporting Texas students and encouraging writing with confidence, the I Am Texas contest began with writing but expanded the art portion to better support more Texas students in building their confidence through history.
The writing portion has a letter-writing focus for second- to fifth-grade students and a fiction/non-fiction focus for sixth- to twelfth-grade students. Each year, writing submissions must align with the “I Am Texas” theme and encourage student contestants to draw inspiration from historical artifacts at The Bryan Museum to express their creativity.
The 2026 contest featured four Texas artifacts to help inspire the writing, but offers all 70,000 pieces of history for students to use as inspiration. The letter-writing portion asks participants to write a letter to someone, past or present, who has contributed to Texas history or culture, or is your personal hero. The letter can be business or personal and can be about any topic; however, it should show that you understand the importance of this individual’s contribution to Texas or your Texas story.
One of our finalists, Doyoon, was also a finalist in the 2025 I Am Texas contest. Last year, he competed as a 5th grader by writing a letter to Stephen F. Austin. This year, he competed in the fiction/nonfiction category.
Doyoon said. “The artifact I used was the Confederate Violin Shotgun. It inspired me to see that a simple, everyday instrument has been turned into a weapon of war. You don't expect a lot of music in war. At least I didn't.”
His short story "Fear and Hope" gives a moving experience as a possible soldier during the Civil War.
“Why did we need to go to Bull Run? I barely had any training, and the only weapon I had to fight the 18,000 soldiers from the Union, which is where I was born, was a shotgun in a violin case. My little sister’s violin case. I was very torn about this war.”
The art portion of the contest is open to all second- to twelfth-grade students, but students must create artwork that represents the theme of “I Am Texas” and is 2D. The theme asks students to create artwork that represents what being Texan means to them.
Two of the student finalists who submitted artworks, Nayoun and Rahee, focused their pieces on what Texas means to them.
Nayoun K. artwork “The Colors of Texas”
Rahee P. artwork “Texas in My Eyes, Dreams in My Heart”
All finalists will be published in the 2026 Historian’s Journal, which will become part of the Museum’s permanent library collection, and will be invited to the special I Am Texas reception at The Bryan Museum in Galveston. Finalist artwork will be on display at the Museum from Oct. 7- Nov. 22. Winners will be announced on Sept. 28 through the I Am Texas website.
Round Rock ISD Finalists
Sommer Elementary School: Art - Nayoun K.
Pearson Ranch Middle School: Writing - Doyoon K.
Walsh Middle School: Art - Rahee P.
Round Rock ISD Semi-finalists
Chandler Oaks Elementary School: Art – Yuna C.
England Elementary School: Art – Minsol K.
Sommer Elementary School: Art – Ahryn J., Geo L., Angie L., Olivia L., Nayoun K.
Grisham Middle School: Art – Kaniga K.
Pearson Ranch Middle School: Writing – Doyoon K.
Walsh Middle School: Art – Rahee P.